Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 70: Chapter 68: Slay the Invaders, Kill the Guilty

Miss Ling was missing.

The Rain Bell was connected to Master Zhang, a man known as a Land Immortal a thousand years ago.

Huo Wen, one of the Gandong Divine Spear Horse’s subordinates, had come for the Rain Bell. Moreover, she suspected Miss Ling was a descendant of Master Zhang... and even wanted to use this fact to claim ownership of the bell with a blood ritual.

...

Wan Ze stared at the logical connections he had written out, his gaze utterly frigid.

Everyone in the martial world knew the cardinal rule: feuds don’t extend to family!

’The only reason they’d dare do this is because they think they’re well-hidden, that I can’t find them! It’s also a demonstration of their power, a threat that they can kill me.’

Of course, no one knew for sure if the perpetrators were connected to Huo Wen and her master, the Gandong Divine Spear Horse.

Around noon, Situ Bai personally inquired about the matter. High-ranking officials from the police department even made a special trip to the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall. When it came to the man who was the Holy City’s pillar of stability, no one dared to be careless.

Afterward, a large contingent of officials departed.

Once they were gone, Situ Bai, who now understood the full situation, called the true head of the Song Family’s second branch right in front of Wan Ze. "...The Rain Bell is in my hands. If you want it, come and get it yourself. But if I find out your Song Family had any part in the attempt on my disciple’s life, I will pay you a personal visit! And whoever was involved, I’ll kill them with my own two hands!"

"Situ—"

Situ Bai hung up before the person from the Song Family could get another word in. The chilling aura around him dissipated, and he looked at his closed-door disciple with eyes full of fondness.

Now, only the two of them, master and disciple, were left in the room.

"Master..."

Wan Ze started to speak, but Situ Bai cut him off. "Have some tea. You can’t panic over something like this. The enemy is in the shadows while we’re in the open. The more we lose our composure, the more opportunities we give them. Also, your parents can stay in the martial arts hall’s guesthouse for now. We should have some results within two days, at most."

"I just don’t understand, Master. How can they be so... utterly lawless? My parents are civilians. They shouldn’t be dragged into the feuds of the martial world." Wan Ze lowered his head, his expression unreadable.

Situ Bai looked at him and said slowly, "The purpose of martial arts is to cultivate one’s character and discipline. But some people use their strength only to bully the weak, walking a crooked path. They mistake oppressing others for following their true nature, but they have it all backward. Their potential will always be limited because of it."

"So if I kill them... would that be considered serving justice?" Wan Ze asked.

"Of course, it would," Situ Bai said gravely. "There is no right or wrong in martial arts itself, only in the intentions of the one who practices it. We seek strength to protect ourselves, uphold what is good, and resist injustice... That doesn’t mean we should let ourselves be slaughtered at will! If they dare to attack, we must have the resolve to cut off their heads!"

"I understand, Master."

Wan Ze cupped his fists. The foul mood that had been weighing on him instantly lifted.

He picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

Just then, Zhai Jia burst in, panting. "We found them! They’re hiding in the old residential area in Cao Ying Village!"

Wan Ze shot to his feet.

Situ Bai looked at him. "Who are they?"

"A gang from Guandong. I’ve already sent someone to identify them..."

Before Zhai Jia could finish, Situ Bai cut him off. "There’s no need to identify them specifically. I don’t care who they are. Since they’re the ones responsible, kill who needs to be killed!"

"Master, I want to go myself," Wan Ze suddenly said.

Situ Bai looked over, and slowly nodded: "Fine, you go with them."

Then he added to Zhai Jia, "You and your brother both go. Let your Junior Brother vent some frustration."

"Don’t worry, Master," Zhai Jia nodded.

’I’m a Martial Artist in the Refining Viscera Realm, after all.’

’It’s been three or four years since I reached the Blood Tempering Third Transformation. If I can’t even protect my Junior Brother, I might as well just go and kill myself.’

’After the Blood Tempering Third Transformation comes the Refining Viscera Realm, and after Refining Viscera is the Refining Force Realm. Reaching the peak of Refining Force makes you a Grandmaster, just like Master!’

’Besides, if a real expert from the Refining Force Realm were involved, Master would have handled it personally long ago. It’s not like they’d need me to step in.’

...

Wan Ze followed Zhai Jia out. Lei Ming was driving, and to Wan Ze’s surprise, Zhai Yu was there too. All four of them sat in the car.

Zhai Yu began to explain, "Cao Ying Village is an old village. The main family there is the Cao Family, and they’re extremely clannish..."

"But aren’t the Guandong People hiding there? We’re not going after the locals..." Lei Ming said in a low voice, a little confused.

But Zhai Yu shook his head, his expression serious. "Unfortunately, their contact who is helping them is a local from Cao Ying Village. That means even getting into the village could be a problem. If they intentionally misrepresent who we are, the situation could easily escalate."

Zhai Jia frowned and said decisively, "Then let’s just send troops to supp—"

But he was cut off by Zhai Yu before he could finish. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Lean in. Here’s my idea..." Zhai Yu gestured for the other three to get closer.

...

The nearest town was about a mile north of the entrance to Cao Ying Village. People from all the surrounding villages came here to shop and spend money.

A man from the main branch of the Cao Family staggered out of a restaurant, flanked by three deferential young men who hovered around him.

"Brother Fang, we’ve had plenty to drink. How about you tell us brothers where you’ve struck it rich recently?"

"Struck it rich?" Despite being drunk, Cao Fang sneered, his face smug. "I’m not just bragging, but this is money you lot could never earn."

’Couldn’t earn it?’ The three young men didn’t believe him for a second. ’Everyone knows what a bum you are, Cao Fang. If you can earn that kind of money, who can’t?’

"Brother Fang, we’ve been running with you since we were kids... You know how things are for us. If you’ve found a way to get rich, you’ve got to look out for your little brothers."

Cao Fang swayed on his feet, closing his eyes as if in deep thought. After a moment, he said, "This... It’s not my call. But I can ask for you. Those bosses... they’re very generous."

The three young men immediately began to thank him profusely.

SCREECH!

Just then, an SUV pulled over to the side of the road, stopping only a few yards away from the four men.

The car doors opened.

Four people jumped out.

"Cao Fang?" the man in the lead called out with a wide grin.

"Who the fuck is calling me?" Cao Fang shot a look over his shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, the four newcomers were upon them. The young man who had spoken strode forward and slung an arm around Cao Fang’s neck. "Heh heh, it’s me. Don’t you recognize me?"

"You? You... who the fuck are you?" Cao Fang looked from side to side but didn’t recognize any of them. He frowned. "I don’t know you."

"Then allow me to introduce myself." The young man suddenly slammed a fist into Cao Fang’s stomach. Cao Fang almost threw up everything he had just eaten, but the man clamped a hand under his chin, forcing his mouth shut.

Seeing that things had gone south, Cao Fang’s three companions turned to run, but they were immediately kicked back before they could take a step.

"Don’t move! Anyone who moves dies!" the youngest of the group, a man in a flat cap on the left, snarled.

"Brothers... I don’t fucking know you! I haven’t done anything to offend you, have I?" Cao Fang’s face twisted in pain.

The young man grabbed a handful of his hair and whispered something in his ear. Cao Fang’s pupils instantly constricted as the blood drained from his face—only to rush right back to his head.

’MOTHER! FUCKER!’

"Don’t... don’t kill me! This has nothing to do with me! Every grievance has a source, every debt a debtor! You want Brother Long, don’t fucking come after me!"

"They’re at your house. Who else would we look for?" Zhai Jia said with a grin, tightening his grip. Cao Fang immediately cried out in pain and started begging for his life.

"Sirs, I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I promise I’ll cooperate!"